Darlene Wink pleaded guilty to doing political work on county time

A former aide to Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker has been sentenced to a year of probation after she was convicted of doing campaign work on county time.

Darlene J. Wink was also ordered Thursday to pay a fine and court costs of $2,000. She pleaded guilty last year to two misdemeanor counts of political solicitation by a public employee.

Wink worked for Walker when he was the Milwaukee County executive.

She faced up to one year in prison and a $2,000 fine. However, prosecutors agreed not to recommend prison because the 62-year-old had a clean record and she cooperated with the prosecution of other cases.

Before sentencing, Wink offered a tearful apology and said she recognizes what she did was wrong.

"It's been a long process. She's glad it's over. Nonetheless, we don't know if we'll be asked to cooperate in the future. She's willing to do that she have been all along,' Wink's attorney, Peter Wolff said.

"Scott Walker again avoids any responsibility for this for this job creation. At least Darlene Wink took responsibility for her actions," Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesman Graeme Zielinski said.